Antique Abussson BB6179 4'10" × 5'3" $1,800

This circa-1920 antique Aubusson carpet features a striking all-over design of stylized birds, butterflies, flowers and twisting branches in shades of blue, yellow, green and deep crimson against a field of neutral beige. A red main border completes the look of the early 20th century antique carpet. The Aubusson, Creuse commune of France is renowned for tapestry manufacture. Typically, Aubusson rugs depended on engravings as a design source or the full-scale cartoons from which the low-warp tapestry-weavers worked. Figures were set against a conventional background of verdure, stylized foliage and vignettes of plants on which birds perch and from which issue glimpses of towers and towns. Even today, the center in Aubusson, under control of the French Ministry of Arts, is producing Antique European carpets and French country area rugs of the most exquisite quality.